Game system including slot machines and game control method thereof

ABSTRACT

An interface capable of communicating with a cellular phone of a player, and a game controller are provided. The game controller accepts on a touch panel an input of credit number data indicating the number of credits the player purchases, and sends data of a send request for sending cash value data indicating a cash value to the cellular phone upon completion of acceptance of the input, and receives the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the send request, and then converts the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game system including slot machines and a game control method thereof.

2. Related Art

The networking of slot machines has been proposed in recent years. For example, WO2003/090886 (PCT/US2003/010969), or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-523668, discloses a networked computerized game system, in particular, a technique concerning security. The spread of electronic money has increased the occasions to make payment of money using a cash value stored in a cellular phone.

The present invention provides new slot machines enhancing convenience by links between cellular phones and slot machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a slot machine includes an interface capable of communicating with a cellular phone of a player, a display on which data can be input with a push operation by the player, and a game controller. The game controller accepts on the display an input of credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases, and sends data of a send request for sending cash value data indicating a cash value to the cellular phone upon acceptance of the input, and receives the cash value data from the cellular phone upon sending of the send request, and then converts the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate.

In this slot machine, the input of credit number data indicating the number of credits the player purchases is accepted, and data of the send request for sending cash value data indicating the cash value to the cellular phone can be sent upon completion of the acceptance of the input, and the cash value data can be received from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the send request, and then the received cash value data can be converted to the credit number data at the predetermined conversion rate.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the slot machine further includes a holder securing the cellular phone, and a conversion decision button outputting a permit signal to permit conversion of the cash value data to the credit number data. The interface establishes communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing the cellular phone to the holder. The game controller converts the cash value data to the credit number data when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal.

In this slot machine, the communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication can be established by securing the cellular phone to the holder, and the cash value data can be converted to the credit number data by pushing the conversion decision button.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the slot machine is connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of the predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values. The game controller receives a plurality of conversion rate data indicating a plurality of predetermined conversion rates from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals, and displays on the display the plurality of conversion rate data received, and accepts the input of the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display.

In this slot machine, the plurality of conversion rate data indicating the plurality of predetermined conversion rates are received from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals, and the received plurality of conversion rate data are displayed, and the input of the credit number data can be accepted upon completion of the displaying.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the game controller accepts an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data, and converts the cash value data to the credit number data when the cash value data received does not exceed the upper limit value.

This slot machine accepts the input of an upper limit value of cash value data converted to credit number data, and converts the cash value data to the credit number data when the received cash value data does not exceed the upper limit value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of slot machines according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and devices connected to the slot machines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the slot machine of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing in enlarged dimension a display area of the slot machine of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a controller of a video reel slot machine in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view when viewed from the back side of the outline of the construction of a liquid crystal display of the slot machine in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of part of the liquid crystal display shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a controller of a mechanical reel slot machine in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a display/input controller of the slot machine in the preferred embodiment;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are flow charts showing the flow of the processing operation of the slot machine in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conversion rate table in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a currency selection screen in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conversion upper limit input screen in the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a credit number input screen in the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of slot machines 13 according to the present invention and devices connected to the slot machines 13. In FIG. 1, a conversion rate management server is connected to the slot machines 13 over a network 600. Cellular phones 300 of the players are also connectable to the slot machines 13 via a wireless send/receive part 171 (refer to FIG. 2). The connecting method of the cellular phones 300 of the players will be described later.

Each of the cellular phones 300 of the players sends a cash value (electronic money) for purchasing credits to the slot machine 13. The cellular phone 300 is equipped with an IC chip (not shown) for storing the cash value and performing wireless communication with the slot machine 13.

The conversion rate management server 500 stores a conversion rate table (refer to FIG. 10) used for converting cash values to credits.

Each of the slot machines 13 is a slot machine enabling the player to perform a basic game. The slot machine 13 receives a cash value from the cellular phone 300 of the player, and then converts the cash value to a credit by receiving a conversion rate table from the conversion rate management server 500. The conversion method will be described later.

Thus, the cash value stored in the cellular phone 300 of the player can be converted to credit, enabling the player to perform the basic game. This facilitates the purchase of the credit thereby improving the attractiveness of the game.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the slot machine 13 of the preferred embodiment in the present invention. The slot machine 13 includes a cabinet 20 and a main door 42. The cabinet 20 has a surface opening toward the player. The cabinet 20 houses various components including a controller 100 (refer to FIGS. 4 and 7) for electrically controlling the slot machine 13, and a hopper 44 (refer to FIGS. 4 and 7) for controlling the insertion, storage, and payout of coins (game media), and the like. The game media are not limited to coins. For example, they may be medals, tokens, electronic money, or electronic value information (credits) equivalent to these.

The main door 42 is a member with which the interior of the cabinet 20 is covered so as not to be exposed to the outside. A liquid crystal display 30 is disposed at substantially the center of the main door 42.

The liquid crystal display 30 provides a variety of images related to games including produced images and the like. The player advances the game while observing the variety of images displayed on the liquid crystal display 30. The liquid crystal display 30 includes a transparent liquid crystal panel 34 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 6). The transparent liquid crystal panel 34 can be brought partly or entirely into its transparent or non-transparent state, and can also display a variety of images. The construction of the liquid crystal display 30 will be described in detail later.

If the slot machine 13 includes video reels, five virtual reels are displayed on the liquid crystal display 30. The term “video reels” means displaying images of reels in place of mechanical reels, on the liquid crystal display 30. As a plurality of kinds of symbols necessary for the basic game, the following symbols of “BONUS”, “WILD”, “TREASURE BOX”, “GOLDEN MASK”, “HOLY CUP”, “COMPASS & MAP”, “SNAKE”, “A”, “K”, “Q”, “J”, and “10” are displayed together with images as if the reels were rotating.

On the other hand, if the slot machine 13 includes mechanical reels, five mechanical reels 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E (refer to FIGS. 3 and 5), each having a plurality of kinds of symbols on its outer peripheral surface, are rotatably laterally aligned on the back side of the liquid crystal display 30. The mechanical reels 3A to 3E are constructed as a plurality of symbol displaying means, together with stepping motors 45A, 45B, 45C, 45D, and 45E (refer to FIG. 7) to be described later. The mechanical reels 3A to 3E have on their respective outer peripheral surfaces a plurality of kinds of symbols necessary for the basic game. These symbols of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E are made visible when the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 is in its transparent state.

A substantially horizontal operating part 21 is disposed below the liquid crystal display 30. Disposed on the right side of the operating part 21 is a coin slot 22 through which a number of coins are inserted into the slot machine 13. On the other hand, disposed on the left side of the operating part 21 are a BET switch 23 and a spin-repeat-bet switch 24. The BET switch 23 is used to choose the number of coins as game media to be bet on lines L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, and L9 for awarding nine winnings to be described later (hereinafter referred to simply as “winning lines”), any one of which can be made active, and the activated winning is awarded. The spin-repeat-bet switch 24 is used to repeat the game without changing the number of coins bet on the winning lines in the last game. The number of coins to be bet on the winning lines can be decided by pushing the BET switch 23 or the spin-repeat-bet switch 24.

In the operating part 21, a start switch 25 for accepting per game the player's operation of starting the basic game is disposed on the left side of the BET switch 23. Pushing either the start switch 25 or the spin-repeat-bet switch 24 triggers the start of the game, and the above-mentioned five mechanical reels 3A to 3E are then rotated.

Also in the operating part 21, a cash-out switch 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the coin slot 22. When the player pushes the cash-out switch 26, the inserted coins can be paid out from a coin discharge slot 27. The discharged coins can be collected on a coin tray 28. Sound transmitting openings 29, through which sound effects output from a speaker 41 (refer to FIGS. 4 and 7) housed within the cabinet 20 are propagated to the outside of the cabinet 20, are disposed on the right and left sides with the coin discharge slot 27 interposed therebetween above the coin tray 28.

A connecting surface 121 extending substantially vertically is disposed below the operating part 21. A holder 170 is disposed on the right side of the connecting surface 121. The holder 170 is configured so that the cellular phone 300 of the player can be secured thereto, and is equipped with a wireless send/receive part 171 enabling wireless communications with the cellular phone 300 of the player.

Securing the cellular phone 300 of the player to the holder 170 enables the cellular phone 300 of the player and the slot machine 13 to be connected via the wireless send/receive part 171. The cellular phone 300 of the player may be secured at a predetermined distance so as to permit communications with the wireless send/receive part 171, without requiring contact therewith. The wireless send/receive part 171 is equipped with an IC card reader/writer (not shown), by which information is sent to and received from the IC chip (not shown) mounted on the cellular phone 300 of the player. Communications can be performed with electromagnetic wave emitted from the IC card reader/writer.

FIG. 3 shows in an enlargement of a display area of the slot machine 13. The liquid crystal display 30 of the slot machine 13 includes a front panel 31 and the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 (refer to FIGS. 5 and 6), which is disposed on the back surface of the front panel 31. The front panel 31 can be constructed by incorporating a transparent display surface 31 a and a symbol forming area 31 b where a symbol can be formed. Image information displayed on the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 disposed on the back surface of the front panel 31 can be observed through the display surface 31 a of the front panel 31. On the other hand, when the area of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 is in its transparent state, the symbols on the five mechanical reels 3A to 3E arranged to the rear of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 can be observed through the display surface 31 a. If the slot machine 13 is comprised of video reels, the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 may be set to its non-transparent state in order to display image reels. Alternatively, an ordinary liquid crystal panel may be used instead of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34.

Various display parts such as a payout number display part 48, a credit number display part 49, and a BET number display part 50 are disposed on the left back side of the liquid crystal display 30. The portions of the symbol forming area 31 b of the front panel 31 which cover the front parts of the various display parts 48 to 50 are transparent, permitting visual observation of the contents of the displays on the display parts 48 to 50.

Referring to FIG. 3, the slot machine 13 has the lines L1 to L9 for awarding the nine winnings. The lines L1 to L9 extend so as to pass through a symbol of each of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E when the rotations of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E come to a stop.

For example, a one-push operation of the BET switch 23 activates the line L3 for awarding a third winning, the line L5 for awarding a fifth winning, and the line L7 for awarding a seventh winning, and also takes up a coin as a credit medal.

A two-push operation of the BET switch 23 activates, for example, the line L1 for awarding a first winning, the line L4 for awarding a fourth winning, and the line L8 for awarding an eighth winning, in addition to the above-mentioned three lines, and also takes up two coins as credit medals.

A three-push operation of the BET switch 23 activates, for example, the line L2 for awarding a second winning, the line L6 for awarding a sixth winning, and the line L9 for awarding a ninth winning, in addition to the above-mentioned six lines, and also takes up three coins as credit medals.

The payout number display part 48 displays the payout number of coins when a combination for awarding a winning is established on the winning lines. The credit number display part 49 displays the credit number of coins stored in the slot machine 13. The BET number display part 50 displays the BET number that is the number of coins bet on the winning lines. These display parts 48 to 50 are constructed by incorporating a seven-segment indicator. Alternatively, the display parts 48 to 50 may be displayed by images on the transparent liquid crystal panel 34.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the controller 100 of the slot machine 13 having video reels. The slot machine 13 having the video reels will be shown in FIG. 7 to be described later. Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 100 of the slot machine 13 is a microcomputer and provided with an interface circuit group 102, an input-output bus 104, a CPU 106, a ROM 108, a RAM 110, an interface circuit 111 for communication, a random number generator 112, a speaker drive circuit 122, a hopper drive circuit 124, a display part drive circuit 128, and a display/input controller 140.

The interface circuit group 102 is connected to the input-output bus 104 performing input and output of data signals or address signals with respect to the CPU 106.

A start switch 25 is connected to the interface circuit group 102. A start signal output from the start switch 25 is converted to a predetermined signal by the interface circuit group 102, and then supplied to the input-output bus 104.

The BET switch 23, the spin-repeat-bet switch 24, and the cash-out switch 26 are also connected to the interface circuit group 102. Switching signals output from the switches 23, 24, and 26, respectively, are also supplied to the interface circuit group 102, and converted to predetermined signals by the interface circuit group 102, and then supplied to the input-output bus 104.

A coin sensor 43 is also connected to the interface circuit group 102. The coin sensor 43 is a sensor for detecting coins inserted into the coin slot 22, and disposed in relation to the coin slot 22. A sensing signal output from the coin sensor 43 is also supplied to the interface circuit group 102, and converted to a predetermined signal by the interface circuit group 102, and then supplied to the input-output bus 104.

The wireless send/receive part 171 is also connected to the interface circuit group 102. The wireless send/receive part 171 is equipped in the holder 170 in order to exchange data with the cellular phone 300 of the player.

The ROM 108 and the RAM 110 are connected to the input-output bus 104.

Upon acceptance of the start operation of the basic game through the start switch 25, the CPU 106 reads a basic game program to execute the basic game. The basic game program is programmed as follows. That is, a display for starting scrolling of the symbols on the five video reels is provided on the liquid crystal display 30 via the display/input controller 140. Thereafter, a display for stopping the five video reels is provided to rearrange the five video reels. If a combination of symbols stopped at this time is displayed on the winning lines, and the combination corresponds to a specific combination for which a winning is awarded, a number of coins associated with the specific combination are paid out.

The ROM 108 stores a control program for regulating and controlling the slot machine 13, a program for executing a routine as shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9B (hereinafter referred to as a “routine execution program”), and initial data for executing the control program, and various data tables used in decision processes. The routine execution program includes the above-mentioned basic game program and the like. As an example of the data tables, there is a table as shown in FIG. 10. The RAM 110 temporarily stores the values of flags and variables, and the like used in the control program.

The interface circuit 111 for communication is also connected to the input-output bus 104. The interface circuit 111 for communication is a circuit for communication with the conversion rate management server 500 over the network 600 including a variety of networks of LAN. In the present embodiment, the CPU 106 receives a conversion rate table (refer to FIG. 10) from the conversion rate management server 500 via the interface circuit 111 for communication.

The random number generator 112 for generating random numbers is also connected to the input-output bus 104. The random number generator 112 generates random numbers included in a certain range of numerical values, for example, “0” to “65535 (2¹⁶−1).” Alternatively, the random numbers may be generated by the arithmetic processing of the CPU 106.

The display part drive circuit 128 for driving the display parts 48 to 50 is also connected to the input-output bus 104. In response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, the CPU 106 controls the operations of the display parts 48 to 50 via the display part drive circuit 128.

The speaker drive circuit 122 for driving the speaker 41 is also connected to the input-output bus 104. The CPU 106 reads sound data stored in the ROM 108, and sends the read sound data to the speaker drive circuit 122 via the input-output bus 104. This enables the speaker 41 to generate predetermined sound effects.

The hopper drive circuit 124 for driving the hopper 44 is also connected to the input-output bus 104. If a cash-out signal is input from the cash-out switch 26, the CPU 106 outputs a drive signal to the hopper drive circuit 124 via the input-output bus 104. This enables the hopper 44 to pay out a number of coins corresponding to the remainder of credits at that point, which is stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 110.

The display/input controller 140 is also connected to the input-output bus 104. The CPU 106 generates an image display instruction according to the game state and the game result, and outputs the generated image display instruction to the display/input controller 140 via the input-output bus 104. If an image display instruction is input from the CPU 106, the display/input controller 140 generates a drive signal for driving the liquid crystal display 30 based on the input image display instruction, and outputs the generated drive signal to the liquid crystal display 30. This enables a predetermined image to be displayed on the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 of the liquid crystal display 30. The display/input controller 140 sends, as an input signal, the signal accepted by the touch panel 32 on the liquid crystal display 30, to the CPU 106 via the input-output bus 104.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the construction of the liquid crystal display 30 of the slot machine 13. The liquid crystal display 30 displays game images related to the basic game. Therefore, the liquid crystal display 30 is constructed of the front panel 31 including a touch panel 32 and a display board 33, the transparent liquid crystal panel 34, a light guide plate 35, a reflecting film 36, fluorescent lamps 37 a, 37 b, 38 a, and 38 b being so-called white light sources, lamp holders 39 a, 39 b, 39 c, 39 d, 39 e, 39 f, 39 g, and 39 h, and a table carrier package (TCP) mounting thereon ICs for driving the transparent liquid crystal panel. The TCP, not being shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is constructed of a flexible substrate (not shown) connected to a terminal part of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34, and the like.

The liquid crystal display 30 is disposed in front of the display areas of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E (in front of the display surface 31 a) so as to cross over the mechanical reels 3A to 3E. A predetermined spacing is provided between the mechanical reels 3A to 3E and the liquid crystal display 30. For video reels, the images of the reels are displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, instead of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E.

The touch panel 32 is formed of a transparent member. The display board 33 is formed of a transparent member, and a symbol or the like is formed at positions or the like corresponding to the areas between the display parts 48 to 50, on the display board 33. That is, the area where the symbol or the like is formed on the display board 33 corresponds to the symbol forming area 31 b on the front panel 31. On the other hand, the area where neither a symbol nor the like is formed on the display board 33 corresponds to the display surface 31 a on the front panel 31 (refer to FIG. 3). Alternatively, the entire surface of the front panel 31 may be the display surface 31 a, without forming the symbol forming area 31 b on the front panel 31. In this case, no symbol may be formed on the display board 33, or the display board 33 may be omitted.

It is noted that the electric circuits for activating the display parts 48 to 50 arranged on the back side of the display board 33 are not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The transparent liquid crystal panel 34 can be achieved by sealing liquid crystal in a clearance part between a transparent substrate such as a glass plate with a thin film transistor layer formed thereon, and another transparent substrate opposed thereto. The display mode of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 is set to normally white. The term “normally white” means a mode in which a white display is provided with the liquid crystal not being driven (the light transmitted to the display surface side can be observed from the outside). By employing the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 set to normally white, the player can continue the game because the variable displays and the stop displays of the respective symbols on the mechanical reels 3A to 3E can be observed in the event that the liquid crystal cannot be driven. That is, even in that event, it is possible to perform a game comprised mainly of the rearrangement of the symbols on the mechanical reels 3A to 3E.

The light guide plate 35, which guides the light from the fluorescent lamps 37 a and 37 b to the transparent liquid crystal panel 34 (in other words, illuminates the transparent liquid crystal panel 34), is disposed on the back side of the transparent liquid crystal panel 34, and is formed of a transparent member such as acrylic resin (with a light guiding function) having a thickness of about 2 cm.

The reflecting film 36 can be obtained by forming, for example, a silver deposition film on a white polyester film or an aluminium thin film, and it reflects the light introduced in the light guide plate 35 toward the front side of the light guide plate 35. The reflecting film 36 is constructed of a reflecting area 36A and a non-reflecting area (a permeable area) 36B. The non-reflecting area 36B is formed of a transparent material and disposed in an area including a part of the front panel 31 which covers the front parts of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E.

The fluorescent lamps 37 a and 37 b are disposed along the upper end and the lower end of the light guide plate 35, respectively, and both of their ends are supported by lamp holders 39 a and 39 b, and lamp holders 39 g and 39 h, respectively. The light irradiated from the fluorescent lamps 37 a and 37 b is reflected from the reflecting area 36A of the reflecting film 36 and irradiates the transparent liquid crystal panel 34. On the other hand, the fluorescent lamps 38 a and 38 b are disposed at the upper and lower positions of the back side of the reflecting film 36, respectively, and directed to the mechanical reels 3A to 3E. Both ends of the fluorescent lamps 38 a and 38 b are supported by lamp holders 39 c and 39 d, and lamp holders 39 e and 39 f, respectively. The light emitted from the fluorescent lamps 38 a and 38 b is reflected from the surfaces of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E to the non-reflecting area 36B, and illuminates the transparent liquid crystal panel 34. Thus, in the liquid crystal display 30, the light irradiated from the fluorescent lamps 37 a and 37 b and reflected from the reflecting area 36A of the reflecting film 36, as well as the light irradiated from the fluorescent lamps 38 a and 38 b and reflected from the surfaces of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E to the non-reflecting area 36B illuminate the transparent liquid crystal panel 34. Hence, the area of the liquid crystal display 30 corresponding to the non-reflecting area 36B of the reflecting film 36 is an area to be switched between the transparent state and the non-transparent state, depending on whether the liquid crystal is driven or not. On the other hand, the area of the liquid crystal display 30 corresponding to the reflecting area 36A of the reflecting film 36 is brought into the non-transparent state irrespective of whether the liquid crystal is driven or not.

Although in the slot machine 13, only a partial area of the display surface of the liquid crystal display 30 is subjected to switching between the transparent state and the non-transparent state, the entire area of the display surface of the liquid crystal display 30 may be subjected to switching between the transparent state and the non-transparent state. In this case, the reflecting film 36 may be entirely formed as the non-reflecting area 36B, or the reflecting film 36 may be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the controller 100 of the slot machine 13 having mechanical reels. Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 100 of the slot machine 13 is a microcomputer, and provided with an interface circuit group 102, an input-output bus 104, a CPU 106, a ROM 108, a RAM 110, an interface circuit 111 for communication, a random number generator 112, a motor drive circuit 120, a speaker drive circuit 122, a hopper drive circuit 124, a display part drive circuit 128, and a display/input controller 140. Since this electrical configuration is identical with that of the slot machine 13 having the video reels described with reference to FIG. 4, except for one part, only the different part will be described here.

A reel position detection circuit 46 is connected to the interface circuit group 102. The reel position detection circuit 46 is a circuit for detecting the rotational positions of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E, based on pulse signals from a reel rotational position sensor (not shown). The detection signals from the reel position detection circuit 46 are also supplied to the interface circuit group 102, and converted to predetermined signals by the interface circuit group 102, and then supplied to the input-output bus 104′.

Upon acceptance of the start operation of the basic game through the start switch 25, the CPU 106 reads a basic game program to execute the basic game. The basic game program is programmed as follows. That is, all of the stepping motors 45A to 45E are driven to rotate all of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E so as to star, the scrolling of the symbols on the reels 3A to 3E. Thereafter, the drives to the stepping motors 45A to 45E are stopped to stop the rotations of all of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E so as to rearrange the reels 3A to 3E. If a combination of symbols stopped at this time is displayed on the winning lines, and the combination corresponds to a specific combination for which a winning is awarded, a number of coins associated with the specific combination are paid out.

The CPU 106 also controls a second game. Consequently, the CPU 106 sends a signal for executing the second game if a predetermined condition is satisfied when the symbols of all of the mechanical reels 3A to 3E are stopped and displayed.

The motor drive circuit 120 for driving the stepping motors 45A to 45E is also connected to the input-output bus 104. In response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, the CPU 106 controls the operations of the stepping motors 45A to 45E via the motor drive circuit 120.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display/input controller 140 of the slot machine 13. The display/input controller 140 of the slot machine 13 is a sub-microcomputer performing image display processing and the control of input from the touch panel 32, and is equipped with an interface circuit 142, an input-output bus 144, a CPU 146, a ROM 148, a RAM 150, a VDP 152, a video RAM 154, a ROM 156 for image data, a drive circuit 158, and a touch panel control circuit 160.

The interface circuit group 142 is connected to the input-output bus 144. An image display instruction output from the CPU 106 on the above-mentioned controller 100 is supplied to the input-output bus 144 via the interface circuit 142. The input-output bus 144 performs input and output of data signals or address signals with respect to the CPU 146.

The ROM 148 and the RAM 150 are connected to the input-output bus 144. The ROM 148 stores a display control program for generating a drive signal to be supplied to the liquid crystal display 30, based on the image display instruction from the CPU 106 on the controller 100. On the other hand, the RAM 150 stores the values of flags and variables, and the like used in the above-mentioned control program.

The VDP 152 is also connected to the input-output bus 144. The VDP 152 is a processing unit including a so-called sprite circuit, a screen circuit, and a palette circuit, thus enabling it to perform different processes for displaying images on the liquid crystal display 30. Connected to the VDP 152 are the video RAM 154 for storing image data associated with the image display instructions from the CPU 106, and the ROM 156 for image data storing various kinds of image data containing the above-mentioned produced image data. Further connected to the VDP 152 is the drive circuit 158 outputting a drive signal for driving the liquid crystal display 30.

By reading and executing a display control program stored in the ROM 148, the CPU 146 instructs the video RAM 154 to store image data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 30 in response to the image display instructions from the CPU 106 on the above-mentioned controller 100. The image display instructions contain various types of image display instructions such as the display instruction for the above-mentioned produced image.

The ROM 156 for image data stores various kinds image data such as the representation image data.

The touch panel control circuit 160 sends, as an input signal, the signal received by the touch panel 32 on the liquid crystal display 30, to the CPU 106 via the input-output bus 144.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are flow charts showing a sequence of processes up to the conversion of a cash value to a credit, which is executed by the controller 100 of the slot machine 13.

In step S1, the CPU 106 receives a conversion rate table (refer to FIG. 10) from the conversion rate management server 500, and moves the procedure to step S2. Specifically, the CPU 106 receives the conversion rate table and stores it in the RAM 110.

In step S2, the CPU 106 decides whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If so, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S1. If not, it moves to the procedure to step S3.

In step S3, the CPU 106 decides whether or not the cellular phone 300 of the player is secured to the holder 170. If so, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S4. If not, it moves the procedure to step S2. Specifically, the CPU 106 decides whether or not the distance between the wireless send/receive part 171 provided in the holder 170 and the cellular phone 300 of the player is not more than a distance enabling wireless communication. In the present embodiment, if the cellular phone 300 of the player is secured to the holder 170, the distance therebetween falls within the distance enabling wireless communication.

In step S4, the CPU 106 operates to display a currency selection screen (refer to FIG. 11), and moves the procedure to step S5.

In step S5, the CPU 106 decides whether or not a currency is selected. If so, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S6. If not, it moves the procedure to step S5. Specifically, on the currency selection screen (refer to FIG. 11), the CPU 106 decides whether a currency kind button 201 on the liquid crystal display 30 has been pushed or not by a hand 200.

In step S6, the CPU 106 operates to display a conversion upper limit input screen (refer to FIG. 12), and moves the procedure to step S7.

In step S7, the CPU 106 accepts the input of a conversion upper limit value, and moves the procedure to step S8. Specifically, the CPU 106 accepts the input of the conversion upper limit value in the following manner such that ten keys 202 arranged on the liquid crystal display 30 are pushed by the hand 200.

In step S8, the CPU 106 decides whether or not the conversion upper limit value has been selected. If so, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S9. If not, it moves the procedure to step S7. Specifically, the CPU 106 decides whether on the conversion upper limit input screen (refer to FIG. 12), a decision button 204 on the liquid crystal display 30 has been pushed or not by the hand 200. If so, the CPU 106 operates to store the input conversion upper limit value in the RAM 110.

In step S9, the CPU 106 operates to display a credit number input screen (refer to FIG. 13), and moves the procedure to step S10.

In step S10, the CPU 106 accepts the input of a credit number, and moves the procedure to step S11. Specifically, the CPU 106 accepts the input of the credit number in the following manner such that ten keys 202 on the liquid crystal display 30 are pushed by the hand 200.

In step S11, the CPU 106 decides whether or not the conversion decision button has been pushed. If so, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S12. If not, it moves the procedure to step S10. Specifically, the CPU 106 decides whether on the credit number input screen (refer to FIG. 13), a conversion decision button 205 on the liquid crystal display 30 has been pushed by the hand 200. If so, the CPU 106 instructs the RAM 110 to store the decided and input credit number.

In step S12, the CPU 106 calculates the cash value indicating the total amount of the decided credit number, and moves the procedure to step S13. Specifically, the CPU 106 converts the credit number stored in the RAM 110 in step S11 to the cash value by referring to the conversion rate table (refer to FIG. 10) stored in the RAM 110 in step S1. For example, the conversion rate table shown in FIG. 10, the cash value per credit is stored, and the cash value per credit of the currency kind “yen” is 100 yen. Consequently, if the decided credit number is “100,” the cash value is “10,000 yen.” The CPU 106 instructs the RAM 110 to store cash value data indicating the cash value so calculated.

In step S13, the CPU 106 decides whether or not the calculated cash value is not more than the conversion upper limit value. If it is not over that value, the CPU 106 moves the procedure to step S14. If over that value, it moves the procedure to step S10. Specifically, the CPU 106 makes a decision by comparing the cash value data stored in the RAM 110 in step S12 with the conversion upper limit value stored in the RAM 110 in step S8.

In step S14, the CPU 106 operates to generate a send request of the cash value data indicating the cash value calculated in step S12, and moves the procedure to step S15. Specifically, the CPU 106 sends the cash value data to the cellular phone 300 of the player via the wireless send/receive part 171.

In step S15, the CPU 106 receives the cash value data, and moves the procedure to step S16. Specifically, the CPU 106 receives the cash value data for which the send request was executed, from the cellular phone 300 of the player via the wireless send/receive part 171, and operates to store the cash value data in the RAM 110.

In step S16, the CPU 106 converts the received cash value data to credit number data. Specifically, the CPU 106 converts the cash value data stored in the RAM 110 in step S15 to credit number data by referring to the conversion rate table (refer to FIG. 10) stored in the RAM 110 in step S1. For example, the conversion rate table shown in FIG. 10 stores the cash value per credit, and the cash value per credit of the currency kind “yen” is 100 yen. Consequently, if the cash value data is “10,000,” the credit number data is “100.” The CPU 106 instructs the RAM 110 to store the converted credit number data, and add the converted credit number data to the credit number data already stored in the RAM 110, and operates to display the result on the credit number display part 49. The CPU 106 then terminates the present procedure.

The conversion rate table shown in FIG. 10 is a table in which the cash value per credit is stored for each currency kind. For example, in the case of “yen,” the cash value necessary for a credit is “100 yen.”

By referring to the conversion rate table, the CPU 106 converts the data indicating the credit number the CPU 106 accepted the input thereof, to cash value data. Further, by referring to the conversion rate table, the CPU 106 converts the cash value data received from the cellular phone 300 of the player, to the credit number data.

The conversion rate table is stored in the conversion rate management server 500, and the conversion rate for each currency kind changes with time. This conversion rate is determined based on the corresponding exchange rate that changes in real time. For example, if the cash value per credit of “yen” is “100 yen,” in the conversion rate management server 500, the cash value per credit of “dollar,” “euro,” or the like is determined based on the current exchange rate. Specifically, if the current exchange rate of “dollar” is 117 yen per dollar, its cash value is 0.85 dollar for 100 yen.

Thus, the current exchange rate can be reflected in the conversion rate table, and the CPU 106 receives this conversion rate table from the conversion rate management server 500 at predetermined time intervals, and stores it in the RAM 110.

It is therefore possible for the slot machine 13 to purchase credits by using the conversion table in which the current exchange rate is reflected.

Here, the conversion rate management server 500 receives and stores the exchange rate changing in real time from a predetermined server (not shown).

The CPU 106 can also change the conversion rate in the following manner different from the manner of changing conversion rates based on exchange rates, that is, by changing the cash value per credit for a specific currency kind.

For example, the CPU 106 changes the cash value per credit for “yen” (a specific currency kind) from “100 yen” to “110 yen,” and then converts the value of “dollar,” “euro,” or the like corresponding to “110 yen,” based on the current exchange rate.

The CPU 106 receives the exchange rates changing in real time from a predetermined server (not shown), and stores them in the RAM 110.

FIG. 11 is a currency selection screen on which the player can select a currency kind of the cash value to be converted to credits. The currency selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, and the currency kind and the cash value per credit are displayed per currency kind stored in the conversion rate table. The player can choose a currency kind of the cash value to be converted to credits by pushing the currency kind button 201 by the hand 200.

Thus, the player can decide the kind of a currency to be converted to credits by observing the cash value per credit for each currency kind displayed on the currency selection screen.

FIG. 12 is a conversion upper limit input screen on which, the player can input an upper limit value of the cash value to be converted to credits. The conversion upper limit input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, and the player can decide the conversion upper limit value by inputting the conversion upper limit value by pushing the ten key 202 by the hand 200, and then pushing the decision button 204.

The player can also clear the inputted conversion upper limit value by pushing a clear button 203 by the hand 200.

FIG. 13 is a credit number input screen on which the player can input a credit number. The credit number input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 30, and the player can decide a credit number by inputting the credit number by pushing the ten keys 202 by the hand 200, and then pushing the conversion decision button 204.

The player can also clear the input credit number by pushing the clear button 203 by the hand 200.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the player can perform the basic game by sending the cash value stored in the cellular phone to the slot machine in order to convert it to credits. This enables the player to purchase the credits with ease, thereby improving the attractiveness of the game.

Additionally, by using a non-contact type IC card (an IC chip) for sending and receiving data between the cellular phone and the slot machine, the transmission speed can be increased considerably compared to transmission over a transmission circuit network for cellular phones. This facilitates the purchase of credits, thereby improving the attractiveness of the game.

Further, the cash value can be converted to credits in consideration of the exchange rate changing in real time. This increases the range of selections when choosing a currency kind to purchase credits, thereby improving the attractiveness of the game.

Furthermore, the player can input an upper limit value of the cash value to be converted to credits. This eliminates the possibility that, when purchasing the credits, the cash value can be converted to a greater number of credits than the upper limit value. Hence, the player can perform the game with a sense of security.

While the preferred embodiments of the slot machine of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it is to be understood that they are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered to be limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered to be limited by the foregoing description and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the sending and receiving of data between the cellular phone 300 of the player and the slot machine 13 may be performed over a transmission circuit network for cellular phones (not shown). Alternatively, an external connecting terminal (not shown) may be provided in the slot machine 13 so as to be connected to the cellular phone 300 of the player.

In another alternative, instead of direct sending and receiving of data between the cellular phone 300 of the player and the slot machine 13, a currency exchange server (not shown) is connected to the slot machine 13 over the network 600, and connected to the cellular phone 300 of the player via the external connecting terminal (not shown), so that the currency exchange server can operate to convert a cash value to a credit number. 

1. A slot machine comprising: an interface capable of communicating with a cellular phone of a player; a display on which data can be input in a push operation by the player; and a game controller accepting on the display an input of credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases, and sending data of a send request for sending cash value data indicating a cash value to the cellular phone upon acceptance of the input, and receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon sending of the send request, and then converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate.
 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a holder securing the cellular phone; and a conversion decision button outputting a permit signal to permit conversion of the cash value data to the credit number data, wherein the interface establishes communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; and the game controller converts the cash value data to the credit number data when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal.
 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the slot machine is connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of the predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values; the game controller receives data for a plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of the predetermined conversion rates at predetermined time intervals from the conversion rate management server, and displays on the display the plurality of the conversion rates data received, and accepts the input of the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display.
 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the game controller accepts an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data, and converts the cash value data to the credit number data when the cash value data received does not exceed the upper limit value.
 5. A slot machine connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values, the slot machine comprising: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be input in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases; and a game controller (i) receiving data for a plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of predetermined conversion rates at predetermined time intervals from the conversion rate management server; (ii) displaying on the display the data for the plurality of conversion rates received; (iii) accepting on the display an input of the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display; (iv) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of acceptance of the input; (v) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (vi) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at the predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal.
 6. A slot machine comprising: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be input in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases; and a game controller (i) accepting on the display an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data; (ii) accepting an input of the credit number data upon completion of acceptance of the input of the upper limit value; (iii) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of acceptance of the input of the credit number data; (iv) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (v) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal and the cash value data received do not exceed the upper limit value.
 7. A slot machine connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values, the slot machine comprising: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be input in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases; and a game controller (i) receiving data for the plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of the predetermined conversion rates from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals; (ii) displaying on the display the data for the plurality of the conversion rates received; (iii) accepting on the display an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display; (iv) accepting an input of the credit number data upon completion of the input of the upper limit value; (v) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of the input of the credit number data; (vi) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (vii) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at the predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal and the cash value data received does not exceed the upper limit value.
 8. A game control method in which a game controller advances a game in a slot machine comprising an interface capable of communicating with a cellular phone of a player, and a display on which data can be input by a push operation by the player, the method comprising the steps of: accepting on the display an input of credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases; sending data of a send request for sending cash value data indicating a cash value to the cellular phone upon completion of acceptance of the input; receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the send request; and converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate.
 9. The game control method according to claim 8, wherein the slot machine further comprises: (i) a holder securing the cellular phone; and (ii) a conversion decision button outputting a permit signal to permit conversion of the cash value data to the credit number data when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, and the game controller includes the steps of: (a) establishing communication with the cellular phone via the interface by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; and (b) converting the cash value data to the credit number data when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal.
 10. The game control method according to claim 8, wherein the slot machine is connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of the predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values; the game controller includes the steps of: (a) receiving data for a plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of the predetermined conversion rates from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals; (b) displaying on the display the data for the plurality of the conversion rates received; and (c) accepting an input of the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display.
 11. The game control method according to claim 8, wherein the game controller includes the steps of: accepting an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data; and converting the cash value data to the credit number data when the cash value data received does not exceed the upper limit value.
 12. A game control method in which, a slot machine is connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values, and there are provided: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be inputted in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when a player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases, and the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data for a plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of the predetermined conversion rates from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals; (b) displaying on the display the data for the plurality of the conversion rates received; (c) accepting on the display an input of the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display; (d) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of acceptance of the input; (e) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (f) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at the predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal.
 13. A game control method in which there are provided: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be inputted in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases; and the method comprising: (a) accepting on the display an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data; (b) accepting an input of the credit number data upon completion of acceptance of the input of the upper limit value; (c) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of the input of the credit number data; (d) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (e) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at a predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal and the cash value data received do not exceed the upper limit value.
 14. A game control method in which, a slot machine is connected so as to establish communication with a conversion rate management server storing a plurality of predetermined conversion rates for each of a plurality of kinds of cash values, and there are provided: a holder securing a cellular phone of a player; an interface establishing communication with the cellular phone by wireless communication upon securing of the cellular phone to the holder; a display on which data can be inputted in a push operation by the player; a conversion decision button outputting, when the player performs a push operation of a predetermined position on the display, a permit signal to permit conversion of cash value data indicating cash values to credit number data indicating a number of credits the player purchases, and the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data for a plurality of conversion rates indicating the plurality of the predetermined conversion rates from the conversion rate management server at predetermined time intervals; (b) displaying on the display the data for the plurality of the conversion rates received; (c) accepting on the display an input of an upper limit value of the cash value data to be converted to the credit number data upon completion of displaying on the display; (d) accepting an input of the credit number data upon completion of acceptance of the input of the upper limit value; (e) sending data of a send request for sending the cash value data to the cellular phone upon completion of the input of the credit number data; (f) receiving the cash value data from the cellular phone upon completion of sending of the data of the send request; and (g) converting the cash value data received to the credit number data at the predetermined conversion rate when the conversion decision button outputs the permit signal and the cash value data received do not exceed the upper limit value. 